Improvement in carriage-tops



L. RIGHTER.

Carriage Top-I Patented Jan. 12, 1869.

NFETERS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON, D c

. acarriage-top;

* Elmira 5.

LEWIS RIGHTER,

or SALEM, OHIO.

Letters Patent No. 85,853, dated January 12, 1869; antedated January 2, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARRIAGE-TOPS.

m The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS RIGHTnR, of Salem, ii the county of Colombian-a, and in the State of. Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carnage-Tops; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

In' the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification v Figure l is a front view of the plates, with bows for Figures 2 and 3, side views of bows; and

Figure 4, side view of the plates.

The nature of my invention consists in putting the slats for a carriage-top between two plates, and fastening them by screws instead of rivets, for convenience in covering the bows, and in sinking the slats into the bows, or in providing the slats with ears to close around the end of the bow, and fastening the slat to the inner side of the bow; also, in fastening a prop-plate on the bow, which need not, be movedfso that when thetop is trimmed, the shank can be screwed in with less trouble.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the annexed drawings, A and B represent two plates, made of malleable iron or other suitable metal, and of any shape desired, fastened together as shown in fig. 4, and between which plates the ends of the slats O 0 are pivoted, by means of screws a a, from the inside, passing through the plates, as shown in fig. 1. p

- One of these plates is, on its inside, provided with two lugs or flanges, e 0, so as to hold one of the slats steady while the others have room to-be moved, so that the top can be folded and opened at will..

The slats (1 10 are made-of any suitable kind of metal, and sunk into the bows D D, and fastened with screws passing through the bow and the slat, as shown in H 2;

h1g5 socket into which the lower end of the bow is put, thus enclosing the bow and preventing it from splitting, the slat being then fastened to the inner side of the how by screws, as shown in fig. 4.

The prop-plate d, which isscrewed or otherwise fastened to the outside of the bow D, need not be moved, but remain stationary, and presents a heater and better appearance when the top is trimmed; and

the pin or bolt E, provided with a shoulder, passes in the thimble F, with or without a screw, and is screwed into the plate (I, as shown in fig. 2.

j, in the same figure, represents the leather covering to the top, fastened over the'prop-plate 61.

By pivoting the slats G 0 between the two plates A and B with screws a a, as before described, instead of with rivets, the slatsand bows fastened to them are easily taken out, for better convenience in covering the bows, or in mending any rip or tear in the same.

What I claim, is p The metal slat 0, when provided with ears b b, which are secured around the ends of the bow D, and arranged between the plates A B, all as herein set forth. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand, this 4th day of May, 1868.

LEW IS RIGHTER. Witnesses:

SAML T. STREET, R; H. Gnnmouns.

or they maybe provided with ears b 11, form- 

